David Pacun, Reflections on and Some Recommendations for Visually Impaired Students

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Figure 1. Some Things to Put in Place

Basics:
  1. Allow time for special:
    1. Handouts and examples in alternative formats
    2. Individual instruction
    3. Classroom management
  2. Find readers and/or transcribers (possibly work-study students)
  3. Visit Academic Support Services for help with scores & texts in Braille or alternative formats
  4. Request support from Dean or Chair

Physical Plant and Scheduling (daily needs):

  1. Desks: flat, and large enough for a laptop and educational aids
  2. Student’s Schedule: “what’s easiest” (especially for first year students)
  3. Pre-enroll student to give instructor additional preparation time

Classroom issues:

  1. Student volunteers
  2. Textbooks: locate alternative format(s); or an alternative textbook if the assigned text is not available
  3. Envision in advance:
    1. Testing: time, format
    2. Notation-based skills/activities such as dictation
    3. What happens when x isn’t available?
  4. Envision how challenges may lead to changes in instruction & curriculum
  5. Be sure to say what you are doing as you are doing it

Technology:

  1. Compatibility between Academic support, professor, and student software
  2. Test runs: does it really work the way you need it to?
  3. Worst-case scenarios: old-school tech—“Slate and Stylus”